You probably recognize her as the tech-savvy Bailey from Disney XD’s Walk the Prank, or maybe you saw her belting out songs alongside a fairy godmother in a massive Disney+ holiday hit. Honestly, Jillian Shea Spaeder is one of those performers who kind of snuck up on everyone. She started as this high-energy kid in regional musical theater in Pennsylvania and basically manifested a Hollywood career before she was even out of middle school.
It’s easy to write off former Disney stars as "just" child actors, but Jillian is different. She isn't just waiting for a script to land on her desk. She’s writing novels, producing short films about mental health, and recording her own indie-pop tracks. If you’re trying to keep track of her filmography, it’s a weird, cool mix of hidden-camera chaos, heartfelt family comedies, and some surprisingly heavy dramatic work.
The Disney Era: Walk the Prank and Guest Spots
The big break happened in 2016. Jillian landed the role of Bailey in Walk the Prank. If you haven't seen it, the show was this bizarre hybrid of a scripted sitcom and real-life hidden camera pranks. Think Punk'd but for the Disney XD demographic.
Playing Bailey required a specific kind of skill—she had to keep a straight face while pulling off absolutely ridiculous stunts on unsuspecting strangers. It ran for three seasons and 60 episodes. That’s a lot of pranking. During this time, she was the "Disney kid," showing up in all the expected places:
✨ Don't miss: Why October London Make Me Wanna Is the Soul Revival We Actually Needed
- Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn: She guest-starred as McKenna.
- OMG!: A series of digital sketches for DreamWorksTV where she really flexed those improv muscles she’d been building since she was little.
- Just Roll with It: Another "hybrid" show where the audience chooses what happens next. She fit right in because, well, she’d already spent years dealing with unscripted chaos.
Godmothered and the Pivot to Music
In 2020, things shifted. Jillian starred in the Disney+ original film Godmothered as Jane, the daughter of Isla Fisher’s character. This wasn't just another acting gig; it was the first time she really got to bridge the gap between her acting and her first love: music.
She performed two songs on the soundtrack, "Rise Up (Joy to the World)" and "Hero." For a kid who grew up singing in her parents' cover band in Philly, this was the "I've made it" moment. Working with comedy heavyweights like Jillian Bell and Isla Fisher in a freezing Boston winter (she’s mentioned in interviews how brutally cold it was) proved she could hold her own in a big-budget feature.
Beyond the Mouse: Indie Films and Producing
Lately, Jillian has been moving away from the "sassy teen" archetype. She’s leaning into roles that are a bit more raw. She appeared in To the Beat!: Back 2 School and the indie drama Another Girl.
🔗 Read more: How to Watch The Wolf and the Lion Without Getting Lost in the Wild
But the real talk is about her work behind the camera. She wrote, produced, and starred in a short film called The Noise. It’s a pretty intense look at eating disorders and mental health. It’s not "Disney" at all. It’s vulnerable, and it shows a level of maturity that most actors her age are still trying to find.
As of early 2026, she’s been deep in post-production for a feature called Saving Buddy Charles. It’s a coming-of-age comedy about best friends in that weird, limbo summer before college. It feels like the natural next step for her—moving into that "young adult" space while still keeping the humor that made her famous.
A Quick Look at the Jillian Shea Spaeder Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–2018 | Walk the Prank | Bailey | TV Series (Series Regular) |
| 2020 | Godmothered | Jane | Disney+ Film |
| 2020 | To the Beat!: Back 2 School | Summer | Film |
| 2021 | Another Girl | Maya | Film |
| 2021 | The Noise | (Writer/Producer/Lead) | Short Film |
| 2025 | Saving Buddy Charles | (Lead) | Feature Film |
What Most People Get Wrong
People think she just "got lucky" with a Disney audition. In reality, she was a theater kid who spent years doing Les Misérables and Cinderella in regional playhouses. She’s a multi-instrumentalist who plays piano, guitar, and ukulele. Honestly, she’s more of a musician who happens to be great at acting than the other way around.
💡 You might also like: Is Lincoln Lawyer Coming Back? Mickey Haller's Next Move Explained
She’s also a writer. Not just scripts—she’s actually been working on multiple novels. She is signed to New Leaf Literary, which is a big deal in the book world. She’s building a career that isn't dependent on a casting director liking her face; she’s creating her own "IP," as they say in the industry.
What’s Next for Jillian?
If you’re a fan, you should be looking toward her music and her upcoming indie projects. Her debut EP Fall At My Feet dropped recently, and it’s got a much more sophisticated, indie-pop vibe than the Disney soundtracks of her past. She’s also been producing music videos for other artists under Universal Music Group.
Basically, the "Bailey" days are over. Jillian is entering a phase where she’s a triple threat (maybe quadruple threat if you count the books). She wants to be the "wacky aunt" on Disney again one day—her words—but for now, she’s busy being a legitimate filmmaker.
Actionable Insight for Fans: If you want to support Jillian’s most personal work, check out The Noise on YouTube. It has over half a million views and gives you a much better idea of who she is as an artist than Walk the Prank ever could. Also, keep an ear out for the Saving Buddy Charles release date; it’s likely to hit the festival circuit soon.